After years spent dodging the creative urge, over the last couple of months I’ve finally knuckled down and begun writing my second novel, so I’ve been spending a lot of time cocooned in my own little world, waiting for inspiration to strike.
I’ve always found that I’m at my most creative when I feel sad. There’s something about that emotion, something pure that puts me in touch with my innermost feelings, or some kind of essential truth about the world.
It’s a specific feeling, the kind that can be stimulated by watching a heart-breaking film or listening to melancholy music, a favourite trick of mine to create the appropriate mood for writing. It doesn’t have to be a ‘real’ emotion, it can be a construct, influenced by the tragic story someone else has created.
This sadness isn’t a feeling of depression or misery, but something else and it’s something that I’d love to capture in my writing.
I remember once reading an article in The Guardian that perfectly explored the connection between melancholia and creativity, as I understand it, but I’ve never been able to find it again. It’s a shame, because the author captured the essence of the idea more eloquently than I ever could.
For me, the most affecting creative art is about depth of emotion and meaning. A story is always better if it has an emotional truth at its core. It’s the sad stories, the tragic tales, that make us think about our lives and the world around us.
We all want to be happy, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a place in our hearts for a moment of sadness. And if it puts us in touch with something deeper, it’s not an emotion that can be immediately dismissed.
Jessica Brown says
I love this post, it’s so true. And I remember reading that Guardian article too!
There’s something a little satisfying about putting on sad music and letting a bit of melancholy help you while you write. Of course, it’s a different kind of sadness from being truly upset when something bad has happened.
But maybe it’s because we all want to be happy, like you said. When we’re not happy there’s a conflict, which acts as a gap to let out creativity as the mind tries to solve whatever it is stopping it from being happy. I’m not sure that makes any sense! And good luck with your novel! x
Amy Lord says
Thanks Jessica, great comment! I think feeling that kind of emotion whilst writing does make the work seem more intense and profound. Of course, it’s totally different to being genuinely upset, as you say.
Sara Strauss says
I’m glad you’re writing again! I told myself that I would start editing my novel once the new year began, but that hasn’t happened. I think the reason is the opposite of yours — when you’re feeling sad and emotional you write, but since I’ve been in a funk (mostly due to health stuff), I haven’t been in the mood to write at all. I guess I write more when I’m happy, but now that this funk has finally passed I definitely want to get back to shaping my story into something readable!
Good luck with your writing!
~Sara
Amy Lord says
It can be tough to get motivated when you’re not in the right place for anything creative, but I’m sure you’ll get there – good luck with it!
James says
I agree. For me, I’ve drawn or written my most favourite doodles and little poems almost as a form of therapy. The most creative ones arising from moments of melancholy, sadness or regret. Times when I’ve been happiest have ironically not been as rewarding.
Amy Lord says
I think to be creative you need a certain amount of reflection and that often brings with it a feeling of sadness. Happiness is more about being in the moment, which can make it harder to focus on creating something.
Mart says
I greatly enjoyed reading your post that captures this paradox in a simple, but powerful way – just like the sensation of this particular kind of sadness itself is experienced within us.
As many others, I, too have noticed such a strange pattern in my life. The greatest decisions, accomplishments and inspiration have followed when going through the saddest times. I believe this is the period when one grows his or her character the most and learns about him/herself.
I have always wondered why such a phenomena occurs, since sometimes such melancholy can become attractive and pull us away from the “happy life”. My guess has been that sadness clears our minds from the everyday worries, by letting a powerful emotion take control of us and through that help us focus if we manage not to go too deep and fall in the trap of depression.
Perhaps feeling sad is not something we should always try to escape as fast as possible, but rather something that makes our lives more complete if we realize the power of enjoying it when it’s there. And increased creativity is just one of the “joys” of sadness.
Amy Lord says
Thanks for the insightful comment Mart, it seems like the idea of sadness and creativity resonates for a lot of people. And I agree that we shouldn’t try to escape our sadness: I experience a particular emotion that makes me feel at my most creative and fulfilled.